Automobile-frame.



, A `PATENTED MAR. 12,1901. A. NIcHoL'soN L I. T. RUDE.

.AUTOMOBILE FRAME.. APPLIOATION FILED ooT.1z, 1906,

` 2 SHEETSSHIEET 14 10.846,599. PATENTED MAR.12, 1907.

A. NIGHoLsoN @L I. T. AUDE.

AUTOMOBILE FRAME.

APPLIUTIN FILED 00T.12, 1906. l

.' SHEETSfSHEET 2- f/QQ 4 'nutren srn'rns i'nnfrnn'r entren.

.auronoeiLn-Friena.

j No. 84e, ses.

I Specification of Letters 'iatent Patented March 12, 1907.

l Application filed October 12, 19,06. Serial No. 333,680.

` soN and INGWALD T. RUDE, citizens of the United States, residing at 99 Le Moyne j street and 461 North Washtenaw avenue,

Chicago, illinois, respectively, have invented a new and useful Iirnprovennent in Automobile-Frames, of which the following is a specification. j

Our invention consists in the construction of the main frame to which all parts of the automobile is attached or connected and has no relation or connection with the body, :niotor parts, or running-gear.

The object oi our invention. is Vto provide a buil'er which, extending in iront of the car, will taire up the force of a concussion ci? sui'- iicient vio ence to injure the car or occupants, or both, and to so take up the force shock as to reduce or prevent injury therefrom. 4

The manner in which We accomplish. our object is described in the-'following specificav tion and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a top plan view ot` our device` constructed with compression in front and extension spring in the rear. Fig. 2 is a ver tical central section on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fi 3 is a vertical cross-seetion on the line 3 3,- .ig. l. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of our device With compression-springs at iront and rear ends, the rear end springs being Within the frame. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5, Fig. It; and Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section on the line 6 6, Fig. 4.

'In the drawing the frame A, as shown in Figs. i, 2, and 3', is made of channel-bars riveted or bolted together. Secured inthe sides of this frame are a series of staple guides B. On each side of the trarne A, supported in the guides B, are side bars C. Each of these bars 1s ada ted in length to extend at both ends sonic distance beyond the ends of the frame A. Ailixcd to the iront ends of these bars C is a transverse curved cushion- Abar D, and ailiixed to the rear end of said side bars is a cross draw-bar E. Aflixed in the front end of the trame A are a series of projections F, and on the inside of the curved bar D are corresponding projections F. Sup

orted on these projections and compressed etweenftbe bar D and the front end of the Jfreine A are a series of open coiled spring G, adapted to be vclosed by the opposite 1novement of said berend-said trarne..

In the rear end of the traine A are a series of apertures and a corresponding series of` apertures in the above bar E. Between the rear end of the .frame A and the bar E are a series oi closed coiled springs H, the oppo site ends I of which extend through the said apertures in said frame and bar and are secured therein by bending, as shown in Fig. 2. ln this forni of construction the concussive force imparted to the bar D coinpresses the splrings G, `and the movement imparted to t ve side rods C and end bar E extends the springs H.

In F ig. i the sides of the frame A are con structed of I-bcarns, the shape of which enables us to dispense with the guides B, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) the side bars C being slid ably adjusted in the recess 'formed by the head and foot oi the I-bearn, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. i an d in section in Fig. 6.

The iront cushioinbar D is ai'l'ixed to the pro-r jecting ends of' the bar C, and the front end of the `lraine A and inside of the bar D are provided with a series of projectionsl F and F and the coinpression-springs secured there on, shown in Fig. 4 and in the irst construction. (Shown in Fig. l.) In the side beams near the rear end are longitudinal slots d. Supported in these slots and slidable therein is a transverse spring-bar K, this bar allxed to the rear ends of the bars C and is moved thereby. Secured between this bar K and the rear end bar of the frame A are a series oi open coiled springs A', supported by projections F and F. i This form of construction is more economical in space, construction, and improves the adjustment 'of the springs. lt is obvious that another Inodiiicati on in construction may be made by placing the side bers C and spring-bar K inside the li-beains and extending the iront ends of the side bars through suitable apertures in the front end of the traine A and placing the springs between the .trarne and bar D closer together.

FVhat We clai1n, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

IOO

1. A buiferdrarne of the kind described 'i arranged in line on the outside face of each oi the end bars of said frame, each of said. se-

ries ot rejections beine adapted to' su ort the enfoi a coiled spring; an oblong s Ilo.

frame supported on the outside flanges of said main trame, the front end of said frame eing curved and extending beyond the endv of the main frame, the inside of said curved .end being provided with projections corre-l sponding in number and relative position with 'the 'said 'prog'ections on the front end of bar on the main rame, and 'adapted to support the ends of coiled springs, the end barnfV said sliding frame extending through said apertures in the'sides of the main frame, and

' AVprovided on theouter end face with projections 'corres ending with the projections on the inside o the end 'of the main frame; a series of coiled springs, said springs being` supported on seid projections on said main and sliding. frames, 'andcompressible between the 'end bars of said main `end said sliding frames as' described and for the purposes specified.

l 2. A 'bufferfframe 0f the kind described, consisting of the combination of a main frame oblong in form herring sides of I'-'benms front end of seid main frame, andthe rear' end of said s lidable frame extending transversely through said apertures in Seid I- beams; a 4series of open-coiled springs-supported between the ends of rsaid mainframe and the ends of said slidable frame, said springs being adapted to be compressed hy the movement of said slidable frame under pressure, as described and for the purposes speciied. i

ALEXANDER NICHOLSON. INGrWAlDv T. RLDE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. MORGAN, JosEP-H STAAB. 

